Join local Opera expert Erika Reitshamer for a talk that will take you on an audiovisual exploration of great singers of the past and present from three Scandinavian countries and their Nordic cousin, Finland.
Saturday, January 14th 12-2pm | $15; $7 for SCC members
Speaker: Erika Reitshamer, born and educated in Germany, is a passionate and lifelong fan of opera. She was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Co. more than 35 years ago. As VP of the Boston Wagner Society, she presented lectures, organized concerts, and promoted visiting scholars, She is a board member of the New England Opera Club, a member of the Sudbury Opera Lovers Organization, and teacher of opera appreciation for LLARC at Regis College, Newton Lifelong Education and WISE at Assumption College.
Company commander Claus Pedersen and his men are stationed in an Afghan province where they face the relentless pressure of fighting the Taliban while trying to protect the local civilians. Meanwhile back home, Claus’s wife Maria is trying to hold everything together with a husband at war and three children missing their father. During a routine mission, the soldiers are caught in heavy crossfire and in order to save his men, Claus makes a decision that has grave consequences for him and his family back home.
115 minutes. In Danish with English subtitles.
Free; donations accepted.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
After their public showing movies in our film series become part of the Scandinavian Library’s collection of DVDs available for borrowing by Library members.
Influenced by a childhood spent in the countryside of Sweden photographer Annelie Connolly is drawn to subjects that spark those warm memories. Be it the worn wood of a New England barn, the rusty metal of an old truck, or the glass of a vintage jar, it is decidedly the feeling of history and time that comes through so clearly in each photo.
Photographs will be on display November 2nd through the end of December. Please call to set up a viewing time.
All photos are for sale. A portion of the sales will go towards programming at the SCC.
Price is $125 for 11×14″ photos framed to 18×22″
Price is $65 for 8×10″ photo framed to 13.5×16.5″
Born and raised in the picturesque county of Botkyrka just outside of Stockholm, local photographer Annelie Connolly has long had a passion for capturing beautiful nature in photographs. While she still likes to capture images of thousand-year-old churches and farmland on visits to Sweden, Annelie’s photography is now focused on her adopted hometown of Stow, Massachusetts and its surroundings.
Annelie graduated from high school in Tumba, Sweden. Like many Swedes, she then traveled extensively across Europe and the United States — always with camera in hand.
In the 1990s, Annelie immigrated to the United States after marrying a Massachusetts resident who was then serving in the Marines. During her time as a “Marine Wife,” Annelie lived in California and Washington, D.C. Eventually, Annelie enrolled at Wellesley College to complete her studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001.
Since 2001, Annelie has been raising her two boys in Stow and pursuing her passions of art and photography. She has taken photography and framing courses, photographed local events for the Stow Independent, and created a blog site called “New England As I See It.”
Finlandia Foundation-Boston invites you for a concert featuring Soprano Ilona Jokinen, accompanied by Pianist Olga Rogach. The duo will be performing works by Lasse Mårtenson, Jean Sibelius, Toivo Kuula and Erkki Melartin.
The concert will be followed by a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner.
Very few people know the story of Hans Jonathan, a free black man who was born into slavery, declared himself free, escaped the law, and lived and raised a family in early nineteenth-century Iceland. His story is improbable, the stuff of novels. And yet, it’s all true.
In The Man Who Stole Himself, Gisli Palsson unspools the incredible life story of Hans Jonathan (also known as Hans Jónatan) in stunning detail. Today, Hans has become something of an Icelandic icon, claimed as a proud and daring ancestor both there and among his descendants in America.
Palsson brilliantly intertwines Hans Jonathan’s adventurous life with a portrait of the Danish slave trade, legal arguments over slavery, and the state of nineteenth-century race relations in the Northern Atlantic world. Throughout the book, Palsson traces themes of imperial dreams, colonialism, human rights, and globalization, which all come together in the life of a single, remarkable man. Hans literally led a life like no other. His is the story of a man who had the temerity—the courage—to steal himself.
Direct descendants of Hans Jonatan, who live locally, will also be in attendance.
Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys (Robert Redford), but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background. The two continue on until a series of events force Karen to choose between her love and personal growth.
161 minutes. In English.
Directed by Sydney Pollack.
Free; donations accepted.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
After their public showing movies in our film series become part of the Scandinavian Library’s collection of DVDs available for borrowing by Library members.
Though she’s known as a Bach specialist, classical violinist Eva Ingolf also creates sonic memories of her Icelandic homeland with solo performances featuring haunting folk melodies as well as contemporary pieces like “A Troll in the Park.” Now based in New York, she’s released two acclaimed CDs and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, among other famed venues across the globe. She’ll the Nordic Hall to play a concert entitled Elves, Trolls and the Last Dance.
Saturday, November 12th | 1pm | tickets $15; $7 for SCC members
EVA INGOLF hails from a well-known musical family in Iceland. She began violin lessons at a very young age, and, after 6 years at the Conservatory of Reykjavik, left Iceland to study with some of the finest music pedagogues in Europe. During her years in Bruxelles, Geneva and Amsterdam, she was greatly influenced by the spirit of the Russian and East European violin schools. She won scholarships to participate in various master classes, studying with renowned pedagogues such as Stephan Gheorghiu, Victor Pikaizen, Zachar Bron and Tibor Varga Ms. Ingolf has traveled extensively, teaching and performing in such diverse places as Pakistan, Japan, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Her concerts in major music halls have received acclaim from music critics and audiences alike. In 1995-1996, Ms. Ingolf undertook studies in composition, conducting and orchestration at Harvard University. Her two CDs on the JAPIS label in Iceland feature music by Debussy, Chausson, Tartini, Wieniawski, Massenet, Franck, J.S. Bach and Shostakovich. Previous New York appearances include several recitals in Weill Hall @Carnegie Hall and other venues, a performance as soloist with the New York Scandia Symphony at Trinity Church, and an all-Szymanowsky evening with pianist Roman Markowicz at the Kosciuszko Foundation.
Bring your little crafter to the Scandinavian Library to make some Scandinavian crafts perfect for your tree. We will decorate a delightful dala horse and make paper tomten garland.
*Space is limited. Advanced tickets recommended**
Sunday, December 4th | noon | admission is $5; free for SCC members
The himmeli is a traditional Finnish holiday decoration made out of straw. Traditionally himmelis hung above dining tables to ensure a good crop for the coming year, and stayed on display from Christmas till Midsummer. The structure of a himmeli – especially a bigger and more complex one – is visually striking, with geometrical shapes made out of hundreds, or even thousands, of pieces of straw.
In this class you will learn how to construct your own himmeli and will take away a medium size finished project for your home. Your class instructor is Mia Saporito, an interdisciplinary artist from Finland.
Sunday, December 11th | 11am – 2pm| class cost is $20 | $15 for SCC members
Like a fish on a dry land, Kristofer is stuck in a dull everyday routine, working as a security guard. He got fired from the freight ship he worked on, when he was caught smuggling alcohol. Faced with money problems, he is tempted to accept the help of his friend, Steingrimur, who manages to pull some strings to get his old job back. He decides to take his chances one last time on a tour to Rotterdam.
Reykjavik-Rotterdam was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2010.
86 minutes. Icelandic with English subtitles.
Directed by Óskar Jónasson.
Free; donations accepted.
Films start at 1:30pm. Refreshments for attendees are served at 1pm. Lunch (not included) is available in the Kaffestugan, which is open until 3pm every Saturday.
After their public showing movies in our film series become part of the Scandinavian Library’s collection of DVDs available for borrowing by Library members.
GISLI PALSSON is professor of anthropology at the University of Iceland. He is the author, editor, or coeditor of many books.
